A 17-year-old student has been arrested for the abduction, murder and dismemberment of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway who disappeared on her way to school on Oct. 5.
Austin R. Sigg, an Arapahoe Community College student, was arrested at his home in Westminster at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday night, the Westminster police said in a statement.
"Law enforcement received the major break in the Jessica Ridgway investigation they have been hoping for. Late Tuesday evening police received a call that led them to a home near the Ketner Lake Open Space," the statement said. "With this discovery, police are able to announce we have made an arrest in the Ridgeway murder investigation. Austin Reed Sigg, 17, was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Ridgeway."
Sigg, who lives not far from Ridgeway's house, has reportedly confessed his crime twice. First, he told his mother that he killed the 10-year-old and according to a CBS Denver report, his mother called the Westminster police on Tuesday and informed them about his involvement.
The police arrived at his residence shortly and Sigg told them in detail as to what happened to Ridgeway. The report claims that Sigg strangled Ridgeway after he took a hold of her and got her into his vehicle. He told the investigating officers that human remains were inside a crawl space under the home.
"Additionally, authorities will file charges against the attacker in the May 28, 2012, attempted abduction at Ketner Lake," police said.
Police said he was cooperative and waived his rights. He was later taken to Mountain View Detention Facility. Police said he will be formally charged this week and the police said.
"We notified the Ridgeway family this morning of this arrest and we hope and pray this arrest gives them some measure of closure in dealing with this horrible tragedy and loss they have suffered," Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk said at a news conference today.
Meanwhile, a KDVR report claimed that Sigg had been treated for an addiction to pornography at the age of 15, which also said he required counselling.
